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Akimbo - proper use therof:

6 replies

occasionalposter · 30/11/2011 16:45

Only arms can be akimbo. It means with the hands on hips and elbows bent outwards. It is 14/15th century from the term kenebow.

You cannot have 'legs akimbo' it would be physically impossible. Hence the 'League of Gentlemen' using it as a name for a theatre troup - because it is so silly!!!

Right, rant over, as you were.

OP posts:

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nickelbabe · 30/11/2011 16:46

I always wondered about that.

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monkeymushroom · 02/12/2011 01:01

You made me wonder too! It can be used for both according to the OED.
I think LoG used it as it sounds wildly inappropriate and kind of silly!

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kickassangel · 02/12/2011 01:07

Isn't it also playing on the fact that MANY people think it means 'legs wide open', so a theatre group run for schools by a bunch of sleazy middle aged men is wildly inappropriate.

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nickelbabe · 02/12/2011 13:37

I'd like to know hoe old the legs reference is on the OED - i bet it's fewer than 10 years old.

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SweetestThing · 02/12/2011 13:41

I'm sure I remember from my childhood (clearly many years ago!) that there was a character in some circus story in a comic (Beezer? Topper?) who was called Legs Akimbo - she was an acrobat.

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SomethingSuitablyWitty · 08/12/2011 11:00

But you spelt "thereof" wrong, in your thread title, in Pedants' Corner! So how can we believe a word of your OP?